Tahoma: Mother of Waters
3:38am. I knocked gently on the door to wake my friend, Livi (or as I like to call her, Olivia The [insert whatever she is doing]). Little did I know she was wearing earplugs (homegirl takes her sleep seriously), and thus, we were off - like a herd of turtles!
We set off in the dark, coffee and overnight oats as our shining beacons of energy, and headed off to the forest.
The Sunrise parking lot greeted us at exactly 7:11am (a pretty significant number to me, and some that I hold close to my heart), with a spectacular view of The Mountain.
© Nicholas Swatz 2022 | Mount Rainier as seen from Sunrise parking lot area | 50mm 1/125, f/11, ISO 100
When you are here, it doesn’t really matter what direction you are facing, because the views are magnificent no matter what. The beauty of the landscape is nothing short of humbling, and the sensations of peace & doom lurk around every treetop.
© Nicholas Swatz, 2022 | Sunrise Lodge during sunrise | 50mm 1/125, f/11, ISO 100
The trail we selected, partially because of ambition, partially driven by the photo opportunity, and mostly due to the LIES told by AllTrails, began with a steep incline that was an unrecognized foreshadowing of what the next 17.8 miles would bring us.
When the trails meet, that’s when we chose to take the hike towards Fremont Lookout to get a really good view of the mountain in her morning light. Fremont Lookout, built in 1934, sits at 7200 feet and offer panoramic views of Tahoma. 1.3 miles from where the trails meet, and 481 feet of elevation gain, the hike offers a brisk way to get your heart pumping in the morning. If you’re forward-thinking enough to get there early, you’re likely to have the place to yourself for a while, aside of some critters. It’s a great place to sip some morning coffee, and to possibly see an avalanche in the distance (kinda freaked me out).
Me, looking at Tahoma from Fremont Lookout | ©Nicholas Swatz, 2022 | 19mm 1/125, f/10, ISO 100 | captured by Olivia Ron
It’s easy to see how this mountain could leave you speechless, and I really was. Tahoma, as it is known by the Northwest Native Americans, is the “mother of waters” because it gives birth to five major rivers via her glacial peaks: Carbon, White, Cowlitz, Nisqually and Puyallup.
Once we summited the 7,828-foot peak, we took time to just… be in awe. It was nothing short of a spiritual experience standing there, wind whipping through, not a tree in sight (it’s too high up for them to grow), icy air gently kissing your face, the smell of pine in the distance, and volcanic rock beneath your feet. It’s humbling and mystifying, and I would recommend anyone do the hike if you are able.
Please remember to be respectful of others, and of the land. Practice Leave No Trace principles, “take only memories, leave only footprints.”
Olivia, The Mountaineer, exhausted after summit | ©Nicholas Swatz, 2022 19mm 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 100
Pro Tip: If you’re feeling ambitious enough, you’ll stay in the park for sunset and get a whole different world of colors
Mount Rainier as the sun begins to set | ©Nicholas Swatz, 2022 19mm 1/60, f/13, ISO 100
Sunset on Mount Rainier | ©Nicholas Swatz, 2022 19mm 1/160, f/6.3, ISO 100
Moonrise, Blue Hour on Mount Rainier | ©Nicholas Swatz, 2022 19mm 1/40, f/3.5, ISO 1600
Sunset at Mount Rainier National Park | ©Nicholas Swatz, 2022 18mm 1/40, f/8, ISO 1600